Inquiry into the Barroso Taskforce

At its meeting on 19 February 2014, the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister agreed the Terms of Reference for an Inquiry into the Barroso Taskforce.

The Inquiry will investigate the impact of the Barroso Taskforce on Northern Ireland’s engagement on European issues and consider how the Executive engages on European affairs post-Barroso.

The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry are:

Consider the work and structures of the Taskforce including the Barroso Taskforce Working Group since its inception in 2007

Identify the outcomes from the Taskforce and assess against the objectives

Identify and consider lessons learned from the functioning of the Taskforce in order to inform recommendations for future engagement in EU affairs post Barroso

Any organisation or individual with an interest in the Inquiry was invited to submit written evidence to inform the Committee in its consideration of these issues. The deadline for submissions passed on 6 April 2014.

Click here to view the written submissions received in response to the call for evidence.

Click here for OFMDFM’s Barroso Taskforce webpage. On this page you will find an overview of the Taskforce and copies of communications by the European Commission from when the Taskforce was established. On this page there are also links to the Executive’s work in this area.

Click here for the Executive’s European Priorities for Northern Ireland

Click here for the Committee’s Report on the Inquiry, and you will find the Official Report of the Committee’s debate on the report in Plenary here.